Pillar of Cloud (verse)
Musser, Benjamin
COMMONWEAL THE November 6, I929 . - - , carded so carefully that it had become light and soft like silk before it was spun into thread and woven into the velvet-textured cloth. This rich...
...From west to east, from south to north, Pillar of cloud, lead me forth...
...Below it, on the stomach, dangles a large silver cross, larger than I5 the one Pope Risto makes us kiss when he smacks us on the forehead with the bunch of hyssop soaked in holy water...
...COMMONWEAL THE November 6, I929 . - - , carded so carefully that it had become light and soft like silk before it was spun into thread and woven into the velvet-textured cloth...
...I said in a hushed voice...
...A white sail is a little thing In the sky's vast measure...
...But to the land-locked prisoner A white cloud is deliverer...
...The bishop's hair is plaited and the braids est affection and gratitude...
...The with mud from the journey...
...The old man's zeal for a graphic description of the picture before him was not quieted by these few words uttered indifferently...
...Yes, Grandfather," I replied absently and mechanically, "the people bow and cross themselves...
...There was nothing re- the wind so that the benediction spilling from the splendent or magnificent about this man of heaven bishop's uplifted fingers may fall directly on their who, like a real apostle, had traveled on muleback and heads I" on foot over muddy mountain paths to find our village By this time the bishop had walked through the and refill the image-lamps in the souls of the peasants arched entrance of the church and the bell had ceased so that the light of God might continue to illumine its triumphant song of welcome...
...not crooked and of wood like the one on your cane, but of silver and shaped like a large pear...
...God bless you, Bogomir," he said gratefully, "now I have seen the bishop l" Pillar of Cloud Here the land, there the sea, And a white cloud over...
...How does he look, how big is he ? Describe him to me...
...a frizzy beard straggling from his chin like a withered And meantime the right hand waves now in this and tassel from a corn ear...
...His robes are When the bishop appeared, escorted and acclaimed so large that both hems and sleeves reach to the ground, and they are covered with gold and silver braids...
...Lead me away, pillar of cloud, While the great seas thunder...
...The old man stared with his empty eyes toward the little wooden bridge over which the procession was passing...
...The beard which frames his full, round face reaches to his breast...
...Grandfather himself was quaking with emotion, expecting me at any moment to start describing the bishop to him...
...asked me to cross myself...
...so many gems and diamonds that the very sun is Holding in his hand the magnificent holiday cane on dimmed by the brilliance that radiates from them...
...a pipe-like black hat with people bow in waves like the wheat in the fields before a flat top stood on his head...
...The cloud is given to vagrancy, And I am a fleet rover...
...I have waited for this moment all my life and thank the Lord I can see if you would only help me !" Something stirred in my soul and suddenly I found myself speaking" "The bishop is tall and stout, Grandfather...
...He was a shrunken man with a pale dry face...
...BE~JAMI~ MVSSER...
...which advances is set solid and firm on the ground...
...When could see the bishop as plainly as I could see Grand- one foot is lowered, it is stayed there until the other father...
...He wore a black robe spotted now in that direction to spill the heavenly grace...
...He walks very slowly, Grandplaza in front of the church and the schoolhouse...
...Are they worshiping the ground hallowed by his foot-track...
...When I had clone so and Speechless, I stood there on the balcony next my made ready to lead him down the steps from the balgrandfather, unable to believe that this insignificant cony, he stretched his unsteady hands, in one of which man could be the bishop whom the village had awaited he held the soft astrakhan and in the other his holiday with such eagerness for so long, and to whose visit cane, and pressed me to his bosom with the profoundGrandfather had looked with such childish enthusiasm...
...He towers above the peasants like the belltower above the houses...
...Don't be so selfish, Bogomir, don't see only for yourself...
...In which he had carved whole episodes from the New his left hand the bishop carries a resplendent crozier Testament, he looked sublime, like a living saint pre- much bigger than your holiday cane and with its handle pared for the sanctifying rites to be performed by the visiting emissary of God...
...He is here...
...The bishop walks slowly toward the church and blesses the people...
...But when several minutes passed and I had not spoken, he became restless and nervously shouted at me, "You are not telling me, BogomirI Where is the bishop ? Tell, me child, are the people kissing the hem of his robe...
...But what does the bishop wear ?" he squeaked impatiently...
...He does this by lifting two by the motley peasantry, i clutched Grandfather's hand...
...A white sail, a curlew's wing, Infinitesimal treasure...
...Grandfather then their simple lives...
...Away from city in sooty shroud That pulls a man under--A man whose eyes ache day and night For vagrant sail or cloud of white...
...I father, the bishop does, and very proudly too...
...fingers of his right hand and shaking them slightly The pageant crossed the bridge and flooded the small against the people...
...This rich garment, embroidered with an inch of black lace at the borders, was are tucked under the mitre which looms on his head sleeveless, so that Grandfather's linen shirt flapped like the cupola above the church and is studded with about his arms like the white wings of a giant bird...
Vol. 11 • November 1929 • No. 1
